Automatic predetermined card-index-memoranda apparatus.



- H. BATES.

AUTOMATIC PREDETBRMINEDOARD' INDEX MBMOEANDA APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1910.

985,125. Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

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HARRY BATES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC PREDETERIVEINED CARD Specification of Letters Patent.

-INDEX-MEMORANDA APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Application filed May 6, 1910. Serial No. 559,763.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Predetermined Cardlndex-lvleinoranda Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention appertains to that type or class of machines or devices known, generically, as time-controlled apparatus.

My invention contemplates the utilization, in a novel and advantageous manner, of index-cards or units, 2', 6., of cards, as units, bearing indicia or legends, constituting memoranda, or means of identification, such cards being familiar in the various wellknown card-index systems in common use in this country and abroad.

The invention is designed, primarily, to provide a card-index discharging apparatus and alarm-device, which shall be mechanically controlled, automatically to discharge a card, or set or sets of cards, at desired, predetermined intervals, and, synchronously therewith, or just before or after, to sound an audible alarm.

The invention comprehends the provision of an automatically-discharging card-index apparatus, possessing the maximum of simplicity and efficiency with the minimum of cost to manufacture, the device being susceptible of profitable sale at such a low figure as to find a ready market and meet with the favorable consideration of and patronage by the general public.

The devices of my invention are capable of advantageous use in a multiplicity of situations: They are most admirably adapted for use in offices of business men and of professional men, as they can be utilized to remind the user thereof of bills to collect, notes that are due, of times for consultations and engagements, of telephone-calls to be attended to, etc. If the user of the device be a lawyer, it can be employed to remind him of his cases in court, of engagements with clients, etc. If the user of the device he a hotel-keeper, it will be unnecessary for him to keep the usual room-call lists of his guests, for my device automatically delivers the cards, at predetermined intervals, to the telephone-operator, or bellboy, or other employee, avoiding all mistakes. If the user of the device be a newspaper editor, it can be employed as a reminder of the proper times to give out assigmnents, etc. If the user of the device be a car-despatcher, it can be employed to remind him of the times when certain cars shall leave the barn, etc. If the user of the device be a ublic speaker, it can be employed to de iver, automatically, at predetermined intervals, as desired, the sub-heads or different paragraphs of the speech or discourse. The device may be used, to advantage, by public oflicers, physicians, nurses, dentists, train-despatchers, etc. It is impossible to enumerate herein all the uses to which the invention may be applied; the above are given simply as a skeleton outline, it being understood that I am entitled to protection for all the uses to which my invention may be put.

With the above objects in view, and others appearing as the specification proceeds, the invention resides, broadly, in a suitable casing having therein a plurality or series of holders, chambers, sections, or divisions, for the reception therein of sets of index-cards or memoranda-cards, or the like, or medicine, candy, etc., or any other kind of merchandise, o eratively associated with mechanism for delivering or discharging from the device, automatically and at predetermined intervals, successively, the cards contained in each section, said delivery-mechanism being timeand alarm-controlled, as by an ordinary intermittent-alarm clock.

The whole gist of the invention is the combination of holders and time-mechanism adapted to deliver the contents of the holders successively at predetermined intervals, and, preferably, a sounding-alarm to give simultaneously with such delivery, or for a period before or after the delivery, an audible signal.

In the accompanying drawing, I have exhibited, as an illustratory example, one form of embodiment of apparatus capable of carrying out the underlying and basic principles of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the actuating-mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a section 011 the line 44.-, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In connection with the use in my device of memoranda-cards, it may be stated that any memorandum requires, as it were, two

acts or efforts: first, the'manual act of making the memorandum of something the maker thereof hopes to "reihehibei, and, sec end, the mentalfact, or effort, of remembering having made the memorandum, so that the particular object. of making it'shall be carried out or attended to at the proper time. My device eliminates the seabed act, so that it is not necessary to remember either h'a'vih'g made the lhihb f iili'diiii'il, f tlie tiliiivhll the pa'rtiulai dutyshould be at'tehde'd to.

It is necessary; in 'cohiiectioh with the use of my device, to make the memorandum; but,

when the time c'oines'for thepa-rucular thi'n'g' 'or"'duty to be atteiided to, my devi e he bug-ht to do and when he ought to do it,

the de iee 'thus constituting, as itvwefe, a

memory-box,- to j 0g the jih'emery;

- ably, in number suflioi'ent to provide fortyeight compartment or chambers, one coin- 'partment for each fifteen; minutes of twelve hours of a day. It is understand, or course,

eight com artments may be used, as vmay matically reinihds the hiaki both o f what that a greater or lesser number than fortybe desired, The lfo'rty eight eeniparhhehts -or' chambers, thus formed;- are open at theg bottom. 7 These compartments or sections; sq formed by the-spaced division walls a, are

adapted for the reception therein of mem oranda cards, or the like. Disposed beneath a the enmparthiehts is any suitable delivery- 3- incline, such his in inelihe'd, bent, or "curved npl-ate A extending transversely between L the side walls er th'e easing-A. y Y i M I A-"nys'u'itable means may be utilized for? preventing premature discharge of the cards, 5 and,in thisihst'ahce, I have shown, as ah example, a reciprocable rod I) normally su ported beneath the open bottom of the sev- 3 eral com artments or sections, As an ex m y be advantageo ample of; hire means ofsu portihg said rod i b, I have shown a '-giiide-ftube 6-, carried the casing A, at the rear thereof, and into Whichtube s'aid rod 'e'zite'nds. The tube a gitudh nally, as at '0", The rod *2) '{isprevrded with a rack 7) rojeeting threug-h the slot o", whereby the rod 7) ispreyented from rotating or turhing. e

Any convement or preferred means may be utilized harecipr'eca'ting' the rod: In

this instance, I have shown, as an "example 1 *of one iormthe following: The rod 2) is actuated by a spur-gear d engaging the rack I), said gear being carried at one end of a shaft D suitably supported for revoluble movement. The shaft D carries, at its other end, a bevel gear d, meshing With a like gear 6 on a shaft E, carrying a gear 6 meshing with a pinion f on the Winding-arbor f lot, preferably, ah intermittent-alarm clock F' modified so that the alarm, instead of operating at intervals "of less than a minute, operates, referably, for my purposes, at fifteen minute intervals. However, any kind of clock mechanism may he used, other than an inte-ihiitteiit lalarin mechanism. The ela rhi, itself, isshewh ebiivehtiehally, represented b letter'G,

The operation (if the device will be ob- 'vious'": Revolution of the Winding-arbor f in one direction, 2'; e-., to theleft, to wind up the spring in the intermittent-alarm elock F, Will, through the ehaih bf gearing described, "cause the spur-gear (Z to drive the rod 6 forward so as to lie beneath all the 'eard-cehipart iehts ohsections, which is the ner'mal position f said red. The alarm is how set and, at the en'd of each fifteen min- "utes during twelve hours of the day, the intermittent-alarm-clock, through the chain or gearing, will cause the rod 6 to move le'arward the distance "of the width of one "compartinent "or section, 1'. (5., the rod is caused to move from beneath each compartment or section of the series, successively, at intervals of fifteen minutes, whereupon all the cards in each compartment, as the rod is moved from therebeneath, are released and fall-onto the chute A, Wh'ence they are ejected from the deyice, as at point A As an example of mechanism forcausing actuation "of the gears e, e etc, I have illustrated, in l ig. -3, one form thereof; The winding arbor er stem is secured to a ratchet H, which is on the same shaft as a gear -I-. The ratchet H is coupled t'o/the gear I by a pawl i pivotally carried by the gear I, so that the I ratchet and gear move together in Ohe'dilC- ti'on. In the other clirection,"'i-. -'e.--, While winding, the ratchet H turns, while the gear I remains stationary. Any suitable train of gears is employed. Gears J, K and L are shown. The "shaft of "gear L has a tooth '1', that engages with pins we carried by a detent-Whee'l This wheel M is on (meet the time sha' fts of the "clock, andhas a suitable number of pins, according to \vhibh shaft it is on. Six teeth are shown for illustration; therefore, this would be a shaft making a complete revolution in'ninety minutes. in

winding, the tooth "Z engages one of the pins m on the wheel 'M, thusiioiding the train of 7 gears, including the gear I, stationary, while the ratchet H is turned the shaft "or Winding-arb'or This winding operation winds upthe spring 72;,0116 end of which'is secured to the ratchet H and the other end 'to a post h on the cloclcframe, and, at the same time, advances the rod 6 to its extreme forward position beneath all of the compartments or holders. The alarm is now set in operation, with the result that every fifteen minutes one of the pins m on the wheel M passes out from engagement with the tooth Z, whereby the latter is free to make one complete revolution, when it is arrested by contacting with the next pin m. The wheel M continues to advance, and fifteen minutes later this pin passes away from the tooth. Each of these escapes enables the spring h to turn the coupled gear I and ratchet H slightly, suflicient to drawthe rod 6 backward the distance of one compartment or holder, and permitting the contents thereof to fall out. At the same time (or, if desired, for a period before or after such delivery) the alarmbell or buzzer G is sounded. The alarmbell is operated by the alarm-train (notshown) in the regular or any desired manner.

The whole gist of my invention being the combination of holders and time-mechanism for controlling the delivery-mechanism, automatically to deliver the contents of such holders, successively, at predetermined intervals, and, preferably, an alarm to give an audible signal at the time of such delivery, or for a period before or after the delivery, it is immaterial and entirely uni1nportant what kind of holders and what sort of delivery-mechanism may be used.

It is to be understood that many changes and modifications in detail may" be made; but all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In time-controlled apparatus, the co1nbination with a casing, of a series of stationary pockets therein, movable means for preventing premature release of and discharge-from said pockets of articles placed therein, and time-controlled operatingmechanism for intermittently actuating said movable means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets.

2. In combination, a casing, a series of stationary pockets therein, movable means for preventing premature release of and discharge from said pockets of articles placed therein, and automatically-operating mechanism for intermittently actuating said movable means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets.

3. In combination, a casing, a series of stationary pockets therein, open at one end, movable means for preventing premature release of and discharge from said pockets of articles placed therein, and automaticallyoperating mechanism for intermittently actuating said movable means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets.

.l'. In combination, a casing, a series of pockets therein, open at the lower end, means normally disposed beneath said pockets for preventing premature release of and discharge from said pockets of articles placed therein, and automatically-operating mechanism for intermittently actuating said means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets.

5. The combination with a series of stationary pockets, of movable means for preventing premature release of and discharge from said pockets of articles placed therein, and automatically operating mechanism for intermittentlyactuating said means, successively to rel-ease the contents of the several pockets.

6. The combination with a series of stationary pockets, of movable means for preventing premature release of and discharge from said pockets of articles placed therein, automatically-operating mechanism for intermittently actuating said means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets, and automatic means for giving a signal at each said release of the contents of a pocket.

7; The combination with a series of stationary pockets, of movable means for preventing premature release of and discharge from said pockets of articles placed therein, automatically-operating mechanism for intermittently actuating said means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets, and automatic means for giving an audible signal at each said release of the contents of a pocket.

8. In a device of the character specified, a casing, containing a series of compartments open at the lower end, means normally disposed beneath said compartments for preventing premature release of and discharge from said compartments of articles placed therein, and time-controlled mechanism for intermittently actuating said means, successively to release the contents of the several pockets in said series.

9. In a device of the character specified, a casing, containing a series of compartments open at the lower end, a reciprocable member normally disposed beneath said compartment for preventing premature discharge from said compartments of articles placed therein, and time-controlled mechanism for intermittently actuating said member, successively to release the contents of the several pockets in said series.

10. In a device of the character specified, a casing, containing a series of compartments open at the lower end, a reciprocable rod normally disposed beneath said compartment for preventing premature dis- "charge from said compai'tmentsof articles placed therein, and time-controlled mechanism for' intermittently actuating said mem-: ber, successively to release the contents of the several pockets in said series.

11. In adevice'of the cliaracter specified,

' a casing, a series of spaced division Walls disposed in an lnclmed position Within said casing and forming a series of compartments open at the lower end thereof, means for preventing premature dlscharge from said V compartments of articles placedthe'rein, and

20, -ment for preventing premature discharge therefrom of articles placed therein, a guiding-support for said reciprocable member, and time-controlled I mechanism for intermittently actuating said member, sncces siv'ely to" release the contents of theseveral pockets in said series,

" 1-3; Ina device of'the'character specified, a casmg, contain ng a seriesof compartments open at one end, a reciprooable mem- 'bern'ormally disposed beneath said compartments for preventing premature discharge therefrom of articles placed therein, a guid-' c ing-tube' intowhich said member projects,

and time-controlled mechanism for intermittently actuating said member, successively to release the contents of the several pockets in said series.

14. In device of the character specified, a casing, containing a series of compartments open at one end, a 'recip'rocable memb'e'r normally "disposed beneath said comwhich said member projects, said member in carryin a rack projecting through said slot "in the tube, and time-controlled mechanism for intermittently actuating said member, successively to release the contents of the several pockets in said series.

' 15. In a device of the character specified, a casing, containing -a series of compartments open atone end, a reci'pro'cable member normally disposed beneath said compartinents for preventing 'piem atnre discharge therefrom of articles placed therein, and having a rack, an intermittent-alarm clock, and mechanism -intermediate of and operatively' associated with saidcl'ocl'r and said rack, and comprising, in part, a spurgear; en aging said rack, whereby said reciprocab'le member is intermittently a'ct'uated to move, at predetermined intervals, from beneath said compartments, succesv ya v 1 1'6. In a device of the character specified, a casing, containing a series of compartments open at one end, a reciprocable memb'er normally disposed bel'ieath said compar'tments for preventing, premature "disc'ha-rge therefrom of articles placed "therein, and having a rack, '21. spur-gear meshing with said i'a'cl'nan intermittent-alarm clock having a Winding-arbor, carrying a pinion, and a chain o'fgearing intermediate said pinion and said spar-gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- v HARRY BATES.

Witnesses:

' A; M. Saran,

Rom. VON WALLME NIOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fi've cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

